Incapacity
Definition - What does Incapacity mean?
Incapacity or incapacitated refers to the lack of ability to properly manage business or property affairs. It also refers to the inability to perform a job due to injury or ill health, or refers to a person who lacks certain legal or financial qualifications (in this sense, the lack of resources or knowledge is the basis for the incapacity).
Incapacity can occur because of:
- Mental deficiency
- Mental illness
- Physical disability
- Illness
- Heavy drug usage
- Chronic intoxication
- Detention
- Confinement
- Minority
- Disappearance
Justipedia explains Incapacity
Incapacity is often implemented in several legal situations:
- As a defense in court cases
- When seeking Social Security disability benefits in reference to an inability to work
- Within a court context to reflect to a jury and/or judge that a person should not be viewed on the same grounds as their peers because the person has one or more physical or psychological disabilities
- Refering to someone who has no money or job (i.e., incapable of functioning financially in a normal manner)
One common example of incapacity is person in a coma, because they do not have the required judgment to make logical, informed decisions or take action.
A person declared incapacitated might require a guardianship.
